Focusing device for portable photographic cameras



s. MANIYA 2,305,301

FOCUSING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA Filed June 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig 2 Dec. 15, 1942, 5 MANlYA 2,305,301

FOCUSING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE PHOTOQIRAPEIQCAMERA 7 Filed June 5, 1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 oi the case 9 of the camera.

ltatcnted Dec, 15, 1942 FOCUSING DEVICE FOR PORTABLE PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Seiichi Mamiya, Ohito, Takata-Gun, Japan; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application June 5, 1940, Serial No. 339,013 In Japan July 1, 1939 This invention relates to focusing devices for portable photographic cameras, and has for its ohiect to provide a focusing device of simple conlng devices heretofore in use in which the locusing is eiiected hy the adjustment of the lens.

it. practical embodiment of the invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig, l is a plan view partly broken away of a camera equipped with the improved focusing device.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. of the camera partly in section with the hack of the camera swung to open position to expose the interior thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the camera and 4 is a detailed perspective view of the principal parts constituting the invention removed from the ease of the camera.

Referring now to the drawings, i represents the film-holder which consists of a thin plate 2 having an opening 3 and bent substantially at right angle at the ends, as indicated at 4, 4,

guide plates 5 attached on the plate 2 near the upper and lower ends by suitable means, such as soldering, rollers 5, 6 movably mounted on two pairs of tongues I struck out from the bent portion of the plate 2, and bars 8, ii a tached on the foreside of the plate at the upper and lower ends by suitable means, such as soldering, for receiving securing screws, as will be described later (Fig. i)

The range-finder is arranged on the top ill it represents a semi-transparent and semi-reflecting glass, it lens, 13 movable prism, l4 dial plate for reading the range in co-operation with an index (not shown) provided on housing 65 on the top of the case. itself forms no part of the invention, the details ,tf the range-finder are not further described.

l6 represents a spindle which is rotatably mounted in the case extending through the top 10 and bottom ll 01" the case. On the upper As the range-ilnder is well known and (CL 9M5) end oi the spindle, are secured a wheel II with knurled peripheral edge and partly extending out of the housing l5 for operating the spindle it, a toothed wheel IQ for operating the dial plate I! in co-operation with a toothed wheel 213 secured on the spindle of the dial plate, and a cam 2| for swinging the prism l3 through means of a pivoted lever 22 engaging with an extension arm 24 of the pivoted support 23 of the prism. On the lower end of the spindle is secured toothed wheel 25 for thepurpose as will be described later.

I6 represents another spindle similar to the spindle l6 and similarly mounted in a position opposite the spindle 16, except the upper end being rotatably mounted in the top of the case instead of extending out through the top. On the lower end of the spindle is secured a toothed wheel 25' similar to the toothed wheel 25, which is operatively connected to the toothed wheel 25 through means of toothed wheels 26 and 35 which are rotatably mounted on the bottom 11 of case and covered by a housing 34 (Fig. 2), so that the spindle 56' can be rotated in synchronism with the spindle it, when the spindle lBis operated by means of the wheel l8.

On each of the spindles l6 and I6 is eccentrically secured in. the same manner a pair of the same circular cams 21, these cams being disposed in the case in the positions corresponding to the bars .8, 8 attached on the foreside of the plate 2 of the film-holder I, when the fllmholder is mounted in position in the case, as just will be described.

The film-holder I is slidably mounted in the case 9, and is held in position by means of the circular cams 21 and clasping strip members 28, 28 secured on the bars 8, 8 attached on the foreside of the plate l 'of the film-holder by suitable means, such as screws 29 (Fig. 4).

A film wound on a. long strip on spool 30 on the right hand is led to the left hand spool 30, over the right hand roller 6, passing tlu'ough between the plate 2 and the guide plates 5, and. over the left hand roller 6. As the part of the film passing through between the plate 2 and the guide plates 5 will tend to curve back wardly due to the rolled habit, a backing plate 36 with a hole 32 is preferably inserted between the back of the film and the guide plates 5, which is provided at one end with tongues 32, 32 struck out from the plate and turned up to engage with the ends of the guide plates 5, so that the plate is prevented. from moving when the film is drawing from the right hand spool 30 to the left hand spool 30.

With the above mentioned construction, when the range-finder is operated to measure the distance oi'-'a.n object by rotating the wheel l8 and hence the spindle l8 having the circular earns 27 secured thereon, the spindle l6 having the circular cams 27 secured thereon is simultaneously rotated through means of the train of the toothed wheels 25, 26, 35, 25', whereby the film-holder I is moved forward or backward to bring the surface of the film to be photographed into a focus Thus, it is apparent that when the distance or the object is read on the dial plate, the surface of the film is brought into the focus.

SEIICHI MAMI Y A. 

